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04/06/2026

The 22nd Annual International Command Senior Enlisted Leaders (CSEL) Conference was held at the NATO School Oberammergau. The event brought together senior enlisted leaders from NATO commands, member and partner nations, educational institutions, and various NATO and U.S. Commands. The conference focused on NATO’s current strategic priorities, the evolving geopolitical environment, and lessons identified and learned across NATO Areas of Responsibility and Interest, while strengthening professional networks and cooperation among allied and partner nations. Participants were addressed by SACEUR General Alexus G. Grynkewich, SACT Admiral Pierre Vandier, and other high-level guest speakers.

Representing the Baltic Defence College, Alvydas Tamošiūnas participated in the conference. He delivered a presentation on the Command Senior Enlisted Leaders Course (CSELC), engaged with senior enlisted leaders from allied and partner nations, and discussed current CSELC-related issues, challenges, and future development opportunities. The conference provided an excellent platform for exchanging best practices, strengthening professional relationships, and enhancing cooperation within the NATO senior enlisted community.

The conference was also attended by Didzis Baltiņš, who will assume the duties of BALTDEFCOL Senior Enlisted Leader Sergeant Major and CD CSELC on 17 June. His participation supported a smooth transition, provided an opportunity to establish connections with key international counterparts, and offered insight into ongoing initiatives across the NATO senior enlisted network.

03/06/2026

The Higher Command Studies Course had the privilege of hosting H.E. Ross Allen, British Ambassador to Estonia, for a session on the United Kingdom's approach to deterrence and defence. 🇬🇧

Ambassador Allen traced the arc of UK commitment to Baltic security across past, present, and future, situating the United Kingdom's enduring role in the region within the wider strategic picture. His reflections gave HCSC participants a valuable perspective on how national policy translates into sustained regional presence.

As Ambassador Allen concludes his tenure in Tallinn, the Baltic Defence College extends its sincere gratitude for his support over the years. We wish him every success in his future endeavours. 🤝

British Embassy Tallinn

01/06/2026

Today, we celebrate a significant milestone in international diplomatic cooperation and professional military education. The Baltic Defence College has presented the Baltic Defence College Medal of Merit Gold 🎖️ to H.E. Emmanuel Mignot, the Ambassador of France to Estonia.

Underscoring the strength of our partnership, Ambassador Mignot was once again in hashtag today to actively support our educational mission. He delivered a specialised lecture on French deterrence and defence to the Higher Command Studies Course (HCSC).

This prestigious decoration recognises Ambassador Mignot’s impact across three key areas:
🔶 Elevating the College's Mission: Delivering strategic lectures to multinational participants, fostering a deeper understanding of contemporary security challenges
🔶 Strengthening Academic Integration: Initiating the placement of a French faculty member at BALTDEFCOL, directly enhancing the quality of professional military education and supporting our faculty.
🔶 Sustained Diplomatic Engagement: Actively promoting NATO and EU defence collaboration, reinforcing the college’s standing within the international defence community.

This moment highlights more than just individual excellence; it reflects a shared, enduring commitment to developing future strategic leaders and reinforcing the collective security architecture of the Baltic region.

Our warmest congratulations to Ambassador Mignot on this well-deserved honour, and thank you for your continued support here in Tartu! 🇫🇷 🤝 🇪🇪 🇱🇻 🇱🇹

22/05/2026

Combined Joint Staff Exercise Joint Resolve 2026 in has come to an end. 👏🏻

For three weeks, students from 18 countries were engaged in joint operational planning and the ex*****on of their plans. According to general feedback, the good atmosphere enhanced learning and made working together easier. 🫡

The students of the Baltic Defence College 🇪🇪 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 worked in close cooperation with their colleagues from the Polish War Studies University 🇵🇱, the Finnish National Defence University 🇫🇮, the Swedish Defence University 🇸🇪, and the National Defence University of Ukraine 🇺🇦.

We would like to thank this year’s host, the Finnish National Defence University, all external contributors, and every student for their participation in Joint Resolve 2026! 🙏🏻

This exercise was organised for you, but in the end, it was you who made it a success! 🔥

Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu | Akademia Sztuki Wojennej | Försvarshögskolan | Національний університет оборони України

19/05/2026

"Period of time is quite complex so we need to be agile. We need to outsmart and outthink our enemy in order to deter or if necessary to defend our or our allies countries."

In the video, Brigadier General Alvydas Šiuparis, Commandant of the Baltic Defence College, explains the value of the international Joint Resolve 26 exercise being held in Santahamina for students and what is important in officer education today.

Joint Resolve is a NATO operational-level international planning and ex*****on exercise for students in general staff officer courses. The joint exercise, organized by the Baltic Defence College, Poland’s War Studies University and Finnish National Defence University, is now hosted for the first time by FNDU. 🌍

15/05/2026

🤝 Collaboration is at the heart of modern operational planning. During his recent visit to ⚔️ 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, the BALTDEFCOL CDT, BG Alvydas Šiuparis, underscored the vital importance of international partnership in professional military education (PME).

A key highlight of the visit was an office call with the Rector of the Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu – Finnish National Defence University, BG Jaro Kesänen. Our CDT expressed his deep appreciation to our Finnish counterparts for their excellent hosting of this year’s exercise, while reaffirming commitments for continued participation in future Joint Resolve series exercises and exploring new avenues for collaboration between the two institutions.

Exercise Joint Resolve 2026 is a true testament to multinational synergy. BALTDEFCOL students are working in mixed Joint Operational Planning Groups (JOPGs) alongside peers from prestigious partner institutions, including:
➡️ Finnish National Defence University
➡️ Polish War Studies University
➡️ Swedish Defence University
➡️ National Defence University of Ukraine
➡️ German Führungsakademie

In these mixed teams, students are sharing leadership and briefing roles, working hand-in-hand to master the complexities of a joint operational environment. This collaborative effort culminated in the delivery of Mission Analysis Briefs (MAB) to their Senior Mentors, providing a comprehensive understanding of the operational challenges ahead.

Behind the scenes, the integration continues with a diverse group of JOPG Facilitators and Subject Matter Experts supervised by the Exercise Control (EXCON) group, ensuring a realistic training environment for all.

As the exercise progresses into Course of Action (COA) development and upcoming wargaming sessions, we extend our gratitude to all participating PME institutions. Together, we are preparing the next generation of military leaders for the collaborative demands of tomorrow's security landscape🤝 🫡

14/05/2026

It’s been an action-packed day here at the BALTDEFCOL, filled with high-level dialogue and strategic exchange! We were proud to host two international delegations, further cementing our role as a hub for Baltic security cooperation 🤩

🌍 Welcoming the Global Press
We kicked things off by welcoming a group of international journalists visiting for this year's .

The Commandant, Brigadier General Alvydas Šiuparis, introduced the College’s vital mission and our contribution to regional interoperability.
The group also attended a lecture on the "Trajectories of Future War," gaining academic insights into how global conflicts are evolving.

🇩🇰 Strengthening Ties with Denmark
Later in the day, we were delighted to host over 30 members from Det Udenrigspolitiske Selskab
(The Danish Foreign Policy Society). This diverse delegation engaged in a robust "minds-on" exchange with our academic faculty.

The focus? A deep dive into the current geopolitical shifts within the Baltic area and the strategic challenges we face together as allies.

🎯 Our Mission
Located at the heart of the Baltic region, BALTDEFCOL remains dedicated to fostering the dialogue and expert analysis needed to navigate our unique security landscape.

13/05/2026

continues to go from strength to strength through our ongoing cooperation with international partners and institutions! 🤩

We recently had the privilege of hosting Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Florian Emonet, Director and Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the Swiss International Non‑Commissioned Officers Academy (INCOA).

During the visit, both parties delivered overviews of their respective institutions and explored avenues for further collaboration. We are also honoured that BALTDEFCOL has been invited to nominate a representative to join the INCOA Academic Board. 👌

10/05/2026

𝐇𝐂𝐒𝐂 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩 has come to an end in France 🇫🇷

The visit to the French War College offered a valuable opportunity to examine professional military education and strategic culture in the French context, with discussions touching on France's role within European and transatlantic defence frameworks.

The afternoon at Les Invalides brought a different perspective: centuries of French military history made tangible, from the Musée de l'Armée to Napoleon's tomb beneath the Dôme.

Together, the two visits reflected the breadth of France's defence identity, where institutional and historical dimensions are never far apart.

Our sincere thanks go to all the speakers for their invaluable contributions and for sharing their expertise 🇫🇷 🤝 🇪🇪 🇱🇻 🇱🇹

08/05/2026

𝐇𝐂𝐒𝐂 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩 is continuing at full speed - next stop 📍Egmont Institute 🇧🇪

Engagements offered a valuable opportunity to connect policy practice with analytical insight. Discussions emphasised strategic foresight, institutional adaptation, and the evolving European security landscape, strengthening participants’ ability to critically engage with complex policy challenges.

Our sincere thanks go to all the speakers for their invaluable contributions and for sharing their expertise 🤝

Address

Riia 12
Tartu
51010

Telephone

+3727176400

Website

http://www.baltdefcol.org/

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